Japanese Literary Awards

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Chisato Abe

あべ ちさと

Abe Chisato

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1991 （Maebashi, Gunma, Japan）
Nationality
Japan
Languages
Japanese

Career

Occupations
Novelist
Active Years
2012-
Influenced By
J. K. Rowling, Noriko Ogiwara, Nahoko Uehashi

Education

Waseda University
School of Culture, Media and Society / Multicultural Studies
Degree: 学士（文学）
Year of Graduation: 2014
Country: Japan
Waseda University Graduate School of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Graduate School of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Degree: 修士（文学）
Year of Graduation: 2017
Country: Japan
Later entered doctoral program but withdrew

Awards

Matsumoto Seichō Prize
2012
Work: Karasu ni Tan wa Niau
Result: Winner
Yoshikawa Eiji Bunko Prize
2024
Work: Yatagarasu series
Result: Winner

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Karasu ni Tan wa Niau

2012 Fantasy

Debut novel and the first in the Yatagarasu series; blends Japanese mythic elements with character-driven storytelling and established the series' world.

Japanese-style fantasymythhuman relationshipscoming of age
Adaptations
  • [Manga] Karasu ni Tan wa Niau (manga) / 松崎夏未 (2018)

Karasu wa Shu o Erabanai

2013 Fantasy

A core volume in the series that explores bonds between crows and humans, and themes of loyalty and choice.

loyaltychoicemythic elements
Adaptations
  • [Manga] Karasu wa Shu o Erabanai (manga) / 松崎夏未 (2021)
  • [TV anime] Karasu wa Shu o Erabanai (TV anime) (2024)

Kogane no Karasu (The Golden Crow)

2014 Fantasy

One of the major episodes in the series that deepens the worldbuilding and series lore.

powerbetrayalduty

Kukan no Karasu

2015 Fantasy

A continuation in the series where characters' relationships are tested and pivotal developments occur.

lossrebirthbonds

Tamayorihime

2016 Fantasy

An important work in the series that revisits material from an earlier prototype that influenced the author's debut.

reinterpretation of mythfateorigins

Yasaka no Karasu

2017 Fantasy

A full-length continuation that carries the series into new narrative phases.

dutyconflictreconciliation

Karasu Hyakka: Hotaru no Shō

2018 Fantasy (side story)

A side-story collection of shorter episodes that explore peripheral aspects of the series' world.

side storiesencountersevocative settings

Rakuen no Karasu

2020 Fantasy

A sequel that both reaffirms major themes of the series and advances the storyline.

ideal vs realitytrialsredemption

Hatsugen

2019 Fantasy (standalone)

A standalone novel (author's first major work outside the Yatagarasu series).

existencediscoverythe supernatural

Tsuioku no Karasu

2021 Fantasy

Karasu no Midoriha

2022 Fantasy

Karasu Hyakka: Shirayuri no Sho

2023 Fantasy side stories

Mochizuki no Karasu

2024 Fantasy

Borei no Karasu

2025 Fantasy

Bibliography

  • Karasu ni Tan wa Niau (2012, Bungeishunju; paperback 2014)
  • Karasu wa Shu o Erabanai (2013, Bungeishunju; paperback 2015)
  • Kogane no Karasu (2014, Bungeishunju; paperback 2016)
  • Kukan no Karasu (2015, Bungeishunju; paperback 2017)
  • Tamayorihime (2016, Bungeishunju; paperback 2018)
  • Yasaka no Karasu (2017, Bungeishunju; paperback 2019)
  • Karasu Hyakka: Hotaru no Shō (2018, Bungeishunju; paperback 2020)
  • Rakuen no Karasu (2020, Bungeishunju; paperback 2022)
  • Hatsugen (2019, NHK Publishing; paperback 2021)
  • 追憶の烏（2021年、文藝春秋 / 文春文庫 2024年）
  • 烏の緑羽（2022年、文藝春秋 / 文春文庫 2024年）
  • 烏百花 白百合の章（2023年、文藝春秋）
  • 望月の烏（2024年、文藝春秋）
  • 亡霊の烏（2025年、文藝春秋）

Adaptations

  • Manga adaptations by Natsumi Matsuzaki (Kodansha Evening KC) - 'Karasu ni Tan wa Niau' (2018-2020), 'Karasu wa Shu o Erabanai' (2021-ongoing)
  • TV anime adaptation: 'Karasu wa Shu o Erabanai' (NHK General TV, 2024-)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Japanese-style fantasylyrical prosereinterpretation of folklore and myth
Recurring Motifs
crowsfamilyloyaltyfateold customs/tradition

Legacy

Debuted while at Waseda University and became a noted young fantasy author. The Yatagarasu series has substantial cumulative sales and, through manga and anime adaptations, has reached a broad audience.

Museums

  • Maebashi Literary Museum (has hosted exhibitions related to Chisato Abe) Maebashi, Gunma, Japan

Archives

  • National Diet Library - authority data for Chisato Abe
  • VIAF identifier: 295398729

In Popular Culture

  • TV anime adaptation (2024, NHK General): 'Karasu wa Shu o Erabanai'
  • Manga adaptations (Kodansha Evening): major works have been comic-serialized
  • The Yatagarasu series was adapted as the NHK General TV anime Karasu wa Aruji o Erabanai in 2024.

Quotes

  • Rather than secluding myself in the countryside and just writing, being connected to the outside through university would be better in the long run.
    Source: Interview for 'Sakka no Dokusho-do' (Webdoku / Hon no Zasshi Inc.) (2016)

Trivia

  • Debuted by winning the 19th Matsumoto Seichō Prize while at university (youngest winner in the prize's history).
  • The Yatagarasu series has sold over 850,000 copies in cumulative circulation (per cited sources).
  • The flagship Yatagarasu series has been adapted into manga and a TV anime, forming a media-mix franchise.